Genealogy Chat

If you have half-siblings, what relationship are their children to you? Does the term half-nephew or half-niece exist, or are they simply nephew and niece?

I'd be very grateful if someone could advise.

Yes - and No!

Those words are in some dictionaries. Does the exact relationship really matter, as in a need for someone to know that there is not a full blood relationship? If not, then use niece. My wife's brother has a son - my wife's nephew. I also refer to him as my nephew, not nephew-in-law (which probably isnt in a dictionary). Imagine saying, "This is my half-second-cousin once removed". Perfectly true, but 'young cousin' would do for a non family member.

B

Their children are your half nieces and nephews, and your children their half cousins.

However you call them whatever you feel comfortable with. My grandfather married twice and there are 31 years between the eldest from the first marriage and youngest from the second and therefore similar age differences between the half cousins.

Because of this age difference I always knew my half cousins as Aunts as they were a generation older than me.

Thanks for your input. Of course, in everyday life you just refer to people as nephews, nieces and cousins. I just wondered what the technically correct relationship was.

We have a similar situation with the generations, Inspector. It can get confusing at times, especially when you discover that many of the Aunties and Uncles you knew as a child aren't actually relations, but just friends of your parents!

I too had half siblings whom I thought were my Aunts and Uncles, and I even called my dad's first wife grandma. I was in my teens before I knew the truth. I still call my half nieces and nephews cousins as it's too complicated to explain, and any way, most of them are older than I am. I had to smile at Inspectors comments. Our neighbours were also known as aunts and Uncles. No wonder we grow up confused. :-S

It was very confusing when i was growing up, All mum and dad's freinds where addresses by us as Aunts and Uncles and there children where refered to as cousin,

No wonder i thought our family was related to the entre village :-0

Roy :-D